Haim Brings ‘I Quit’ Tour to a Close in Santa Barbara With a Fiery Show That Feels Anything but Resigned: Concert Review

The Santa Barbara Bowl, a renowned 4,562-seat open-air amphitheater nestled in the California hills, was filled to capacity for the final show of Haim's tour. Under the venue's characteristically pleasant coastal skies, the sister trio delivered a powerful and energetic performance that left no doubt about their formidable live prowess, particularly silencing any concerns regarding Alana Haim's swift recovery from a recent on-stage incident. The concert served as a potent reminder of their status as a premier musical export from the Golden State, delivering what a longtime collaborator might call "an unbroken chain of anthems."

A major point of interest was the live debut of material from their fourth studio album, "I Quit." This record marks a significant artistic shift for the band, moving toward a grittier, guitar-driven rock sound that perfectly suits their concert energy, while consciously dialing back the electronic production of their earlier work. Despite the album's title and its lyrical themes of personal closure, the live renditions were anything but somber. Dr. Elena Vance, a music critic, noted, "Haim has always balanced pop sensibility with emotional depth, but 'I Quit' feels like their most personally resonant work to date, particularly for principal songwriter Danielle Haim." The performance masterfully blended raw, emotional weight with an atmosphere of pure, unadulterated celebration.

The group's magnetic stage presence remains a core part of their appeal. Alana Haim, bursting with energy from her position on stage-left, acted as the group's primary hype-person, while Este Haim's famously expressive "bass-face" provided a visual spectacle all its own. The trio is anchored by the more reserved Danielle, who, as Alana quipped, "doesn't talk," instead communicating through powerful vocals and searing guitar solos. The production design was a standout feature, centered on an evolving digital ticker that echoed a Times Square news feed. It began by displaying empowering "I quit" statements like "I quit regret" before morphing into "the oracle" for playful banter with the band. Other inventive uses of the screens included a faux intermission clock and individual video feeds for each sister, elegantly highlighting their distinct personalities within a unified whole.

Their impressive musical versatility was on full display throughout the evening. While Este held down the bass, she joined her sisters for the tribal kettle drum segment in "Now I'm In It." Danielle showcased her multi-instrumental talents with fiery guitar leads and a turn on the drums, ably supported by touring musicians Nick and Ryan. The setlist featured rare solo spots, with Este taking the lead on the soulful "Cry" and Alana debuting her vocal on the disco-flavored "Spinning" for this tour. Yet the sisters' legendary harmonies were the undeniable centerpiece, soaring on anthems like "Hallelujah" and the new country-inflected "Blood on the Street," the latter featuring a raw, impassioned vocal riff from Danielle that laid bare the song's emotional core.

In a clever departure from the typical concert formula, the band bookended the show with newer, introspective material from "I Quit" rather than relying solely on their established hits. They launched with the defiant "Gone" and concluded the encore with the unexpectedly uplifting "Down to Be Wrong," its simple, wise lyrics leaving a lasting impression. The final, witty statement came from the stage ticker, which flashed "HAIM QUITS" as the tour officially concluded. It was a perfectly humorous end to an evening that demonstrated, with absolute certainty, that Haim's creative journey is far from over. The complete setlist for the Santa Barbara Bowl on October 11, 2025, was: Gone, All Over Me, Take Me Back, My Song 5, Cry, Spinning, Don’t Wanna, Million Years, The Steps, Gasoline, Blood on the Street, The Farm, Hallelujah, Summer Girl, Want You Back, Relationships, Now I’m In It, followed by an encore of The Wire and Down to Be Wrong.